Ball cock



Feb. 25, 1969 sc ET AL 3,429,333

BALL C OCK Filed June 23, 1966 Sheet 3 of4 VE/V 7095 AooLF 5CH0EPE,

FQEOR/C E. SCHMUCK MAHONEY & HQRNBAKER" ATTQEWEYS 3,429,333 BALL COCKAdolf Schoepe, 1620 N. Raymond Ave., Fullerton, Calif.

92631, and Fredric E. Schmuck, 535 Century Drive,

Anaheim, Calif. 92805 Filed June 23, 1966, Ser. No. 559,779

US. Cl. 137315 23 Claims Int. Cl. E03d 1/32, 1/33, 1/36 ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An upright plastic beam of polygonal cross section isintegral with a plastic upper portion of a valve housing and verticallyslidably receives a plastic float by extension through a float slot,said beam and float slot cross sections conforming to prevent relativehorizontal rotation therebetween. A lower portion of the valve housingvertically receives the upper portion therein enclosing a resilientvalve seal peripherally and centrally engaged by the upper portion andmovable toward and away from a lower portion angular valve seatcontrolling fluid flow through the valve as determined by connection toand vertical movement of the float. The housing upper and lower portionsare engaged and disengaged merely through relative horizontal rotationby slid-able interengageable means. The beam has latticed verticalgrooves therein resisting vertical bending and horizontal twisting.

This invention relates to ball cooks for controlling the flow of waterin toilet flush tanks and, more particularly, to ball cocks for such usehaving a unique form of valve construction which is relatively simple,yet of extremely positive operation. Even more particularly, thisinvention relates to ball cocks for such use wherein the valves areeasily accessible and separable for maintenance purposes, and even wherethe ball cocks are of the siphon type with the valves submerged at thebottom of the toilet flush tank and beneath the water level therein.

One of the major problems with ball cocks for use in toilet flush tanks,and particularly where the ball cocks are of the siphon type in whichthe opening valves thereof are submerged beneath water virtually at alltimes, is one of corrosion as a result of such submersion. These ballcocks must be maintained positively operable automatically at all timesand over a long period of use and this is extremely cliflicult when itis considered that the water supplies from area to area will varygreatly as to the various minerals and salts contained therein, as wellas the natural tendency of water to attack most materials through theusual oxidation.

A still further problem is occasioned by the fact that water carryingthe usual natural materials subjected to varying temperatures, erraticflow conditions and circuitous flow through restricted openings such asis encountered in the flow through toilet flush tanks and the ball cockvalves thereof controlling this flow, results in a constant giving upand depositing of these various salts and minerals on the surfaces whichthis water contacts. This is particularly critical in the necessarilyrestricted passages of the ball cock valves, the water flow through suchpassages necessarily having to be controlled for operation of the valveto permit automatic filling of the flush tank.

Also, in order to properly function automatically over a long period oftime and subject to the constant water conditions discussed, most priorball cock valves have been of a relatively complicated nature and it hasbeen extremely difiicult to service these valves. In most instances, inorder to provide the valves with proper seal ing and positively operableover a long period of time "nited States Patent Patented Feb. 25, 1969under these difiicult conditions, the valves have been assembled so asnot to be readily disassembled for servicing and maintenance purposes,but rather when the valves become inoperable or erratic in oper-taion,it is necessary to completely replace the valves. Thus, it has beennecessary for the average home owner to employ outside help and purchaseentire valve assemblies resulting in a relatively high maintenance cost.

Still a further problem encountered with ball cocks for controlling theflow of water in toilet flush tanks is occasioned by the fact that thesetoilet flush tanks are necessarily installed directly in the livingquarters so that the noise of water flow therethrough can be extremelyirritating it of an excessive nature. This noise problem can be of afrustrating nature in view of the fact that if the water pressure isreduced so that the noise of water flow is minimal, the previouslydiscussed corrosion and mineral and salt depositing problems increase,since the water is not flowing with suflicient velocity and pressure soas to maintain the restricted openings and passages clean. On the otherhand, if the Water pressure is increased in order to reduce thesecorrosion and depositing problems, the noise of water flow naturallyincreases.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide a ball cock forcontrolling the flow of water in a toilet flush tank which is ofextremely positive operation with a minimum of water flow noise, yet themajor portions thereof may be formed of moulded plastic so as to reducethe problems of corrosion. This is accomplished by providing a new andunique form of positively operable valve with parts of the valve, aswell as the major portion of the remainder of the ball cock being formedof moulded plastic, such as parts moulded from acetal and parts oflinear polyethylene. In view of the fact that the parts are of mouldedplastic, the various water passages therethrough may be formed with thenecessary complicated and circuitous passages so as to minimize thenoise from water flow through the valve and into the toilet flush tank.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a ball cock forcontrolling the flow of water through a toilet flush tank in which thevarious parts thereof through which the water flow is maintained andcontrolled are easily and simply accessible to the average,inexperienced home owner for clean out and maintenance purposes. Thevalve is formed extremely simple and virtually foolproof from thestandpoint of inexperienced disassembly and reassembly, and the valvehousing is provided with a quick disconnect arrangement so that merelyby rotating onehalf of the valve housing relative to the other, theinternal components of the valve are immediately, completely exposed.Furthermore, in this quick disconnect of the valve housing, the lowerportion of the valve housing with the major water flow componentsremains secured to the water inlet pipe for the flush tank so that oncethe upper portion of the valve housing has been removed, water can bedirected under pressure through the lower portion of the valve and thevarious deposits and debris therein will be quickly loosened andremoved.

It is another object of our invention to provide a ball cock forcontrolling the flow of water through a toilet flush tank in which theball cook may be of the siphon type wherein the valve is positioned atthe lower portion of the flush tank and beneath the water level, yet byproviding the foregoing quick disconnect feature of the valve housing,the various parts of the valve are still readily accessible for cleanout and maintenance purposes. The upper portion of the valve housing isformed at the lower end of an upstanding mast or pylon which mast servesas the guide for the float controlling operation of the valve and thisfloat, although vertically movable on the guide, is

nonrotatable relative thereto. Thus, the valve housing is easilydisconnected and separated merely by grasping the float in the topportion of the flush tank and rotating this float in the properdirection so as to rotate the guide and, therefore, rotate the housingupper portion for the disconnection action. The valve is formed suchthat certain parts remain with the housing upper portion and theremainder with the housing lower portion, and there are no valve partswhich can become easily disconnected and scatter into the lower portionof the flush tank.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a ball cock forcontrolling the flow of water through a toilet flush tank in which thevalve is of a unique nature so as to be positively operable, yet is ofextremely simple construction augmenting the foregoing disconnect andclean out features. This valve may be formed with merely four basicparts made up of the housing upper and lower portions, a resilientmaterial sealing member and an actuating pin acting as a control pin fora unique pilot valve which in turn controls the operation of the valve.When the housing upper portion is disconnected from the lower portionthereof by the rotation of the float and upright guide, the resilientsealing member and the actuating pin remain assembled with this housingupper portion and are automatically removed therewith, whereas thehousing lower portion is mounted on the water inlet pipe and containsthe major portion of the water passages therebeneath so as to provideeasy accessibility for flushing purposes as previously described. Also,the [major portion of these water flow parts beneath the housing lowerportion may be moulded from plastic as previously described so as toprovide the complicated barrier and water straining means and maintainthe major portion of the deposits and debris in this part of the ballcock so that the flushing will remove the same, and at the same time, inview of the normal rnuflling qualities of plastic, the problem of noisefrom the water flow is maintained at a minimum.

It is another object of our invention to provide a ball cock forcontrolling the flow of water through a toilet flush tank having theforegoing quick disconnect feature for clean out and maintenance of theoperating valve thereof, yet when the housing portions are reassembledfor reassembling the valve, the valve housing is automatically sealed soas to maintain proper water flow through the valve and permit such waterflow to be properly controlled by the valve. The previously describedresilient sealing member contained within the valve not only serves asone of the major components for controlling the water flow through thevalve and into the flush tank during the operation of the valve, butalso is uniquely formed so as to have special sealing flanges at properlocations which are compressible between the housing portions when thevalve is assembled by properly connecting the housing portions. Thesesealing flanges prevent water from flowing from between the housingportions and at other locations, so that the water flow through thehousing is only as intended and at locations for proper control byoperation of the valve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings which are for thepurpose of illustration only, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of a toilet flush tankhaving an embodiment of the ball cock of the present invention installedtherein and shown in side elevational view;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view showing theWater inlet portion of the flush tank and the lower valve portion of theball cock of FIG. 1 with the valve in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken fromFIG. 2 and more clearly showing the internal details of the valvecomponents;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional View similar to FIG. 2, butshowing the valve in open position;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the broken line 5-5in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the broken line 66 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation, part in section,taken along the broken line 77 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view taken along thebroken line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded, vertical, sectional view of the valve and variouswater flow components;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view showing the pilot pin of the valvegreatly enlarged in order to illustrate the various details thereof;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, side perspective view of the water inlet memberfor the valve mounted on the Water inlet pipe of the flush tank;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, top plan view taken along the broken line 1212in FIG. 1 showing the nonrotatable slidable connection between the floatand guide; and

FIG. 13 is a side perspective view similar to FIG. 10 showing a slightlymodified form of the pilot pin for the valve.

As shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment of the ball cock generally indicatedat 20 is shown threadably secured to the Water inlet pipe 22 of a toiletflush tank 24, with the exterior end of th ball cock refill hose 26secured to the upper extremity of the overflow tube 28 by a uniquemounting clip 30 for directing refill water into the overflow tube.Also, the ball cook 20 is shown therein as including a unique form offloat 32 nonrotatably and vertically, slidably mounted on an uprightball cock guide 34 having the form of a beam-like mast or pylon to behereinafter descri ed in detail, and with the float being operablyconnected through a connecting arm 36 to a valve operating lever 38 foroperating the valve 40 of the present invention. As stated, the mountingclip 30 for the extremity of the refill hose 26, and the float 32 are ofunique form, but do not form a part of the present invention other thanthe particular co-operating relationship of the float with th guide 34and valve 40, but rather the mounting clip 30 and float 32, as well asthe design appearance of the ball cock 20, are described and claimed inour copending applications Ser. No. 559,778 entitled Refill HoseMounting Clip, now Patent No. 3,319,913 issued May 16, 1967, Ser. No.559,772 entitled Ball Cock Float and Ser. No. D. 2,796 entitled Designfor Ball Cock, now 'Patent No. Des. 206,850 issued Jan. 31, 1967, allfiled on an even date herewith.

With the exception of the fluid inlet member 42, which may be formed ofcopper, brass or other usual materials, and various components formed ofresilient materials and stainl ss steel, the major portion of the ballcock 20 is formed of moulded plastics. It is preferred to form the float32 of linear polyethylene and remaining plastic parts of acetal. In thismanner, the usual problems with corrosion by the water flowing throughthe flush tank 24 are almost indefinitely eliminated and the problems ofscale deposits greatly minimized. Furthermore, by moulding a majorportion of the ball cook 20 from plastics, it is possible to provideintricate and complicated configurations for forming water passageswhich would not otherwise be possible from unmoulded materials.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 through 6, 9 and 11, the ball cock 20is mount d in the flush tank 24 by the fluid inlet member 42 whichextends downwardly through the flush tank overlying the resilient gasket44 and is threadably secured in communication with the water inlet pipe22. Fluid inlet member 42, as before stated, is pr ferably formed ofcopper or brass and includes the annular radial flange 46, thefrusto-conical portion 48, the enlarged, cylindrical portion 50 and thereduced, cylindrical portion 52, with the reduced, cylindrical portion52 being downwardly telescoped by the inlet neck 56 on th housing lowerportion 58 forming a part of the valve 40. As can be seen by comparisonof FIGS. 2 and 11, FIG. ll shows the fluid inlet member 42 prior toassembly, and after pressing of the reduced, cylindrical portion 52 intothe inlet neck 56 of the valve housing lower portion 58, this reduced,cylindrical portion 52 is formed outwardly so as to retain this portionand the inl t neck in permanent assembly, and in this manner, the fluidinlet member serves to support valve 40 in such assembly.

The plastic fluid outlet member 54 is also telescop d over the fluidinlet member 42, with the upper end of this outlet member abutting thevalve housing lower portion 58 outwardly of the fluid outlet openings 60of this housing lower portion. The lower end of the fluid outlet member54 rests on the radial flange 46 of fluid inlet member 42, with thisoutlet member forming the upper, outer, annular chamber 62 communicatingoutwardly through the slots 64 with the refill hose connector 66 andinwardly through th slots 68 with the upper, annular, inner chainber 70which surrounds the previously described reduced cylindrical portion 52and inlet neck 56. As can be seen in FIG. '6, this upper, inner chamber70 communicates downwardly with a lower outlet chamber 72 through theaxially extending slots 74 surrounding the enlarged, cylindrical portion50 of fluid inlet m mber 42 with this lower outlet chamber 72 enclosingthe slotted bafiie member 76 and communicating outwardly into the flushtank 24 through the elongated outlet openings 78 overlying the inletmember flange 46.

Valve 40 is formed by the previously alluded to preferably stainlesssteel housing lower portion 58, the plastic housing upper portion 80,the resilient material sealing member 82 and th preferably stainlesssteel pilot valve actuating pin 84, so that this valve is formed ofmerely four basic parts. The housing lower portion 58 is formed with aflat, annular valve seat 86 between the inlet neck 56 and fluid outletopenings 60, so that this valve seat is positioned internally of thehousing lower portion between the fluid inlet and outl t means for thislower portion. Outwardly of the fluid outlet opening 60, the housinglower portion 58 is formed with a flat, annular sealing surface 88terminating outwardly in a contoured, axially extending flange 90, therey forming this housing lower portion generally cup-shaped and openingupwardly, with the valve seat 86 internally and at a lower portionthereof.

Thus, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a main fluid passage is providedfor the ball cook from the water inlet pipe 22 upwardly through thefluid inlet member 42 into the valve housing lower portion 58 throughthe inlet neck 56. This fluid passage then extends outwardly within thevalve housing low r portion 58 over the valve seat 86 and downwardlythrough the valve fluid outlet openings 60 into the fluid outlet member54. Within the fluid outlet member 54, the fluid passage communicatesoutwardly through the refill hose connector 66, with the r fill hose 26,but primarily extends downwardly in a circuitous path around the fluidinlet member 42 and ultimately opens outwardly into the flush tank 24through the lower outlet opening 78 of this fluid outlet member.

It will be noted that the flow of 'water in this fluid assage within thefluid outlet m mber 54 is not only required to follow a circuitous path,but is also required to flow through and around a series of slots andbafiles so that not only will the noise of water flow be minimized, butdetritus and any other foreign materials and debris of a solid formwithin the water will be given up within the fluid outlet member. Also,the provision of the slotted opening through slot 64 into the refillhose connector 66 will produce this same action. In this manner, themajor portion of such materials are retained within the fluid outletmember 54 for convenient flushing ther from, as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail, and permitted by the unique construction of theball cock 20 of the present 6 invention and particularly the uniqueconstruction of the valve 40 thereof.

The resilient material sealing member 82 of the valve 40 controls theflow of water through the fluid passage just described and is a unitarymember including the thickened, cylindrical, central stationary portion92 connected outwardly through the relatively thin, annular, flexibleconnecting portion 94 to the thickened, annular, movable sealing portion96. The movable sealing portion 96 is in turn outwardly connected by therelatively thin, annular, flexible connecting portion 98 to thethickened, outer or parametrical, annular, stationary sealing portion100. Thus, sealing member 82 is a diaphragm-type of sealing member, withthe movable sealing portion 96 being axially movable relative to thecentral stationary portion 92 and stationary outer sealing portion 100.

The sealing member 82 is received upwardly within the cupped contour ofthe plastic valve housing upper portion 80, with the sealing membercentral stationary portion 92 substantially telescoped by and abutingthe downwardly extending, annular, stepped positioning neck 102, thesealing member flexible connecting portion 94 spaced downwardly from thelower extremities of this neck, the sealing member movable sealingportion 96 spaced outwardly of this neck and downwardly from theradially extending, internal pressure surface 104, the flexibleconnection portion 98 spaced downwardly from this pressure surface 104,and the stationary outer sealing portion 100 abuting this pressuresurface 104 and out- War'clly telescoped by and abuting the downwardlyextending, annular positioning flange 106. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3and 4, this positioning and contour of the sealing member 82 within thevalve housing upper portion 80, and the particular internal contour ofthis valve housing upper portion forms a somewhat inverted U- shapedcross section, annular, pressure sealing chamber 108 between the sealingmember movable sealing portion 96 and the internal pressure surface 104of the valve housing upper portion 80 defined inwardly by the steppedpositioning neck 102 of the housing upper portion and outwardly by thestationary outer sealing portion 1100 of the sealing member.Furthermore, a series of circumferentially spaced slots 110 in theinternal surface of the stepped positioning neck 102 of the valvehousing upper portion 80 form a fluid communication between thispressure sealing chamber 108 inwardly through the annular distributionchamber 112 and diametrical openings 114 of sealing member 82 into thecentral, axially extending, through pilot valve opening 116 of thissealing member.

As best seen enlarged in FIG. 3, the sealing member pilot valve opening116 extending axially and centrally through the sealing member centralstationary portion 92 is formed from the lower end of this centralstationary portion by the reduced inlet portion 118, the enlarged bypassportion 120, the reduced bypass portion 122, the enlarged distributionportion 124 and the reduced exhaust portion 1% opening upwardly of thesealing member and upwardly through the central, axially extending,exhaust opening 128 of the valve housing upper portion 80. As is alsoshown enlarged in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 10 removed from the sealing member82, the pilot valve pin 84, forming the other half of the pilot valvewithin the sealing member, is formed from the lower end of this pin withthe tapered lower end 132, the enlarged bypass portion 134, the enlargedlower sealing portion 136, the minor reduced bypass portion 138, themajor reduced distribution portion 140, and the enlarged upper sealingportion 142 which extends upwardly through the previously describedcentral exhaust opening #128 in the housing upper portion 80, with theupper end of this pin being formed with the spherical connector 144.Both the pilot valve opening 116 in the sealing member centralstationary portion 92 and the pilot valve pin 84 are formed cylindricaland dimensioned such that the reduced portions of the pilot valveopening will relatively tightly abut the enlarged portions of the pilotvalve pin when any of these pin enlarged portions are moved axially intoany of these opening reduced portions, and a series ofcircumferentiall-y spaced, axially extending, spiral bypass grooves 146and 148 are formed respectively in the pin enlarged bypass portion 134and minor reduced bypass portion 138 for the passage of watertherethrough while restricting the passage of detritus or othermaterials.

With the pilot valve pin 84 in its downward valve closing position, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pin tapered lower end 132 projectsdownwardly spaced below the opening reduced inlet portion :118, pinenlarged bypass portion 134 is within the opening reduced inlet portion118, the pin enlarged lower sealing portion 136 is within the openingenlarged bypass portion .120, the pin minor rdeuced bypass portion 138is within the opening reduced bypass portion 122, the pin major reduceddistribution portion 140 is within the opening enlarged distributionportion 124 and the pin enlarged upper sealing portion 142 is within theopening reduced exhaust portion 126. Fluid may therefore flow fromdownwardly of the scaling member central stationary portion 92 upwardlythrough the pilot valve opening 116 into the pressure sealing chamber108 between the sealing member movable sealing portion 96 urging thismovable sealing portion downwardly, while the pin enlarged upper sealingportion 142 is sealed against the opening reduced exhaust portion 126.It will also be noted that the upward abutment of the sealing membercentral stationary portion 92 against the valve housing upper portion 80will provide a fluid seal at this point, as will the upward and outwardabutment of the sealing member stationary outer sealing portion 100against the housing upper portion and the positioning flange 106thereof.

In the upward valve open position of pilot valve pin 84, as shown inFIG. 4, the pin tapered lower end 132 has been moved partially into theopening reduced inlet portion 118, the enlarged by-pass portion 134 ispartially in the opening reduced inlet portion 118 and partially in theopening enlarged bypass portion 120, the pin enlarged lower sealingportion 136 is in and sealing the opening reduced bypass portion 122,the pin minor reduced bypass portion 138 is within the opening enlargeddistribution portion 124, the pin major reduced distribution portion 140is within and extending through the opening reduced exhaust portion 126and the pin enlarged upper sealing portion 142 is spaced above the upperend of the sealing member central stationary portion 92. In thisposition, fluid is prevented from communicating upwardly from beneaththe sealing member central portion 92 through the pilot valve opening116 by the seal formed by the pin enlarged lower sealing portion 136 andopening reduced bypass portion 122, thereby preventing the flow of waterinto the pressure sealing chamber 108, while at the same time permittingthe exhaust of water from this pressure sealing chamber through theopening reduced exhaust portion 126' upwardly through the centralexhaust opening 128 of the valve housing upper portion 80. In thisposition of the pilot valve pin 84, therefore, the sealing membermovable sealing portion 96 is permitted to move upwardly forcing thewater from the pressure sealing chamber 108, and it will be noted that aseries of spaced, radially extending grooves 150 are formed in theinternal pressure surface 104 of the valve housing upper portion 80assuring that in the event the sealing member movable sealing portion 96should move against this internal pressure surface, the pressure sealingchamber 108 can never be completely sealed otf, but rather can always beentered by fluid through these grooves.

With the housing upper portion 80 carrying the resilient materialsealing member 82 and pilot valve actuating pin 84 inserted downwardlyin the housing lower portion 58, detachably secured thereto in a mannerto be hereinafter described, the downwardly tapered edge of the sealingmember stationary outer sealing portion 100 will be compressed againstthe sealing surface 88 of the housing lower portion 58 and the upwardlytapered end of this stationary outer sealing portion Will be compressedagainst the housing upper portion so as to form an outer parametricalseal preventing the passage of fluid outwardly between the housing upperand lower portions. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with thepilot valve pin 84 in downward or valve closing position, water flowingupwardly through the fluid inlet member 42 centrally against the sealingmember 82 will pass upwardly through the pilot valve opening 116 intothe pressure sealing chamber 108 between the sealing member and thehousing upper portion 80 so as to force the sealing member movablesealing portion 96 downwardly against the valve seat 86 on the housinglower portion 58 thereby sealing off the flow of water between the fluidinlet member 42 and the fluid outlet openings 60 of the housing lowerportion. This, therefore, prevents the flow of water through the valve40 into the flush tank 24, as well as into the refill hose 26.

When the pilot valve pin '84 is moved upwardly to its upward or valveopening position, as shown in FIG. 4, the flow of water upwardly throughthe sealing member pilot valve opening 116 is sealed 011? and prevented,while at the same time, the exhaust of water from the pressure sealingchamber 108 upwardly through the sealing member pilot valve opening, andupwardly through the central exhaust opening 128 of the housing upperportion 80 is permitted. Thus, the upward pressure of the water againstthe sealing member 82 will force the exhaust of water from the pressuresealing chamber 108 by an upward forcing of the sealing member movablesealing portion 96 upwardly toward the housing upper portion 80. Thiswill force the sealing member movable sealing portion 96 to moveupwardly away from the valve seat 86 on the housing lower portion 58 andprovide fluid communication from the fluid inlet member 42 between thesealing member movable sealing portion 96 and valve seat 86 andoutwardly and downwardly through the fluid outlet openings 60 of thehousing lower portion, outwardly through the refill hose connector 66into the refill hose 26, and downwardly through the fluid outlet member54 into the flush tank 24.

A valve 40' is therefore provided which is of relatively simpleconstruction yet is highly efficient for performing the necessaryfunction of controlling the flow of water into the flush tank 24. Theonly movable portions of this valve are the movable sealing portion 96of the resilient material sealing member 82 and the pilot valve pin 84,while the central stationary portion 92 of this sealing member, as wellas the stationary outer sealing portion 100 thereof, remains stationaryat all times with the valve housing upper portion 80. Furthermore, thefact that the sealing member central stationary portion 92 remainsstationary at all times assures that the movable positioning of thepilot valve pin 84 will always be exactly proper and assure positiveaction in both the open and closed positions of the valve 40.

Since the pressure sealing chamber 108 controlling the action of thisvalve 40 is formed between the sealing member movable sealing portion 96and the internal pressure surface 104 of the housing upper portion 80,no closed chambers are required to be formed within this resilientmaterial sealing member 82 so that the problems of fabrication andassembly in the valve 40 are minimized. Also, a highly eflicientpressure sealing chamber 108 is provided for movement of the sealingmember movable sealing portion 96 by the formation of this pressuresealing chamber of inverted U-shaped contour, as shown and described.Not only is the sealing member rnovable sealing portion 96 forceddirectly downwardly against the valve seat 86 by the water pressurewithin this pressure sealing chamber 108, but also by virtue of thisinverted U-shaped contour, forces are exerted at the sides of thesections of the movable sealing portion so as to provide a secureengagement between this movable sealing portion and the valve seat.Additionally, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the sealingmember movable sealing portion 96 is in its down position tightlyabuting the valve seat 86, outer parts of this movable sealing portionoverlie the sealing surface 88 of the housing lower portion 58, therebypreventing any possibility of this movable sealing portion beingextruded downwardly into the fluid outlet openings 60 of this housinglower portion.

As also can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the pilot valve pin84 is in its downward position for permitting the flow of water into thepressure sealing chamber 108 and causing the valve 40 to close, theenlarged bypass portion 134 of this pin is guided in the reduced inletportion 118 of the sealing member central stationary portion 92 so thatthe flow of water upwardly around the pin is required to pass throughthe spiral bypass grooves 146. Thus, although this pin enlarged bypassportion 134 never seals in the reduced inlet portion 118 of this sealingmember opening, and cannot if the proper flow of water is to bemaintained upwardly into the pressure sealing chamber 108 for closingthe valve 40, the requirement that the water must pass through thesespiral grooves 146 assures that solid materials cannot pass into theinner portions of this pilot valve so as to disturb the proper workingthereof.

Also, as shown in FIG. 4 and equally important, is the fact that whenthe pilot valve pin 84 is moved to its upward position for permittingthe flow of water from the pressure sealing chamber 108 and causing thevalve 40 to open, the enlarged bypass portion 134 of the pin stillremains partially in the reduced inlet portion 118 of the sealing membercentral stationary portion 92 still guarding against the entrance ofsolid materials into the pilot valve which could disturb the functioningthereof. It is evident, therefore, that the enlarged bypass portion 134of the pilot valve pin 84 never leaves the entrance into the restrictedinner confines of the valve 40 formed by the reduced inlet portion 118of the sealing member central stationary portion 92 despite the valveclosing or opening position of the pin, so that a guard is alwaysmaintained against the entrance of solid materials and the properfunctioning of the valve is insured.

As previously stated, the valve housing upper portion 80 is formed ofplastic and is integral with the lower end of the guide 34, andoverlying the housing lower portion, the guide is broadened and formedwith the diametrical slot 152 therethrough, as shown in FIG. 7. Theinner end of the inverted U-shaped cross section, valve operating lever38 is received within this guide slot 152 and pivotally connected to theguide 34 with the spherical connector 144 at the upper end of the pilotvalve pin 84 being pivotally secured within the inner end of this valveoperating lever spaced inwardly from the point of pivotal connection ofthis valve operating lever to the guide, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus,upward pivoting of the outer end of valve operating lever 38 will movethe inner end thereof downwardly, moving the pilot valve pin 84downwardly to close valve 40, as previously described, and oppositepivotal movement of the valve operating lever will move the pilot valvepin upwardly to open the valve.

The outer end of the valve operating lever 38 is pivotally connected tothe connecting arm 36, which connecting arm is in turn connected to thefloat 32 for movement upwardly and downwardly with the float. Theconstruction details of the float 32 are fully set forth in ourpreviously alluded to copending application, Ser. No. 559,772, and forpurposes of the present invention, the float may be considered tooperate in the conventional manner. Important to the principles of thepresent invention is the fact that the float 32 is mounted verticallyslidable but nonrotatable on the guide 34 through the polygonal, in thiscase rectangular, cross section slot 154 formed vertically through thefloat receiving the polygonal,

10 in this case rectangular, cross section guide, as shown in FIG. 12.

Thus, grasping and rotating the float 32 will cause rotation of theguide 34. Furthermore, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide 34 isprovided with rotative twisting strength, as well as vertical bendingstrength, by forming this guide as a latticed-groove structural member.As shown, guide 34 is formed with opposite continuous sides 156 and theremaining opposite sides 158 with latticed grooves formed therein,thereby providing the structural strength required.

As previously mentioned, the valve housing upper portion is detachablysecured to the housing lower portion 58 and this is accomplished, asbest seen in FIG. 8, by forming circumferentially spaced portions of thehousing lower portion flange inwardly so as to form thecircumferentially spaced, inwardly projecting, engagement flanges 160which slidably engage and overlie the circumferentially spaced,outwardly projecting, engagement flanges 162 formed on the housing upperportion. The housing upper portion 80 may therefore be receiveddownwardly within the housing lower portion 58, as previously described,with the upper portion engagement flanges 162 circumferentially adjacentand downward of the lower portion engagement flanges 160, and limitedrelative rotation between these upper and lower portions will slidablyengage the engagement flanges 162 beneath the engagement flanges 160 soas to secure these housing portions assembled and compressing thepreviously described resilient material sealing member 82 therebetween.Furthermore, the housing upper portion 80 is formed with the stopmembers 164 positioned for engaging the ends of the engagement flanges160 on the housing lower portion 58 when the limited rotation for secureengagement be tween these housing portions is complete, and is alsoformed with the abutment members 166 radially engaging the engagementflanges 160 during this limited rotation to require positive engagementand disengagement movement and guard against accidental disengagement.

With this unique construction of the valve 40 and the integralconnection between the valve housing upper portion 80 and the guide 34,when it is desired to clean the valve of detritus or other foreignmaterial, it is merely necessary to grasp the float 32 and rotate thesame in the proper direction, thereby rotating the guide 34 and thehousing upper portion so as to disengage this housing upper portion fromthe housing lower portion 58. Thereafter, merely by lifting the float 32and guide 34 upwardly carrying the valve housing upper portion 80, thevalve resilient material sealing member 82 and the pilot valve pin 84therewith, will completely expose the valve housing lower portion 58 sothat this housing lower portion, along with the fluid inlet member 42and fluid outlet member 54, may be flushed merely by flowing watertherethrough and into the flush tank 24. Cleaning of the remainder ofthe valve 40, that is, the housing upper portion 80 and the sealingmember 82, may be accomplished merely by removing the sealing memberfrom the housing upper portion, with reassembly being accomplished inthe reverse manner.

In the overall operation of the ball cock 20, the flushing of thetoilet, not shown, will drain the water from the flush tank 24, and asthis water level lowers the float 32 will slide downwardly along theguide 34, ultimately opening the valve 40 and admitting water into theflush tank, as well as through the refill hose 26 into the overflow tube28. As the water level again rises, the float 32 will slide upwardlyalong the guide 34 and ultimately close the valve 40' so as to stop theflow of water.

A slightly modified form of the pilot valve actuating pin 84 is shown inFIG. 13 and indicated at 168. Pin 168 is constructed substantially thesame as the pin 84 previously described for the main part thereof andincludes the same tapered lower end 170, enlarged bypass portion 172,enlarged lower sealing portion 174, minor reduced bypass portion 176,major reduced distribution portion 178, enlarged upper sealing portion180 and spherical connector 182, all of which are positioned andcooperate with the various portions of the sealing member centralstationary portion 92 in the same manner as previously describedrelative to the pin 84. The only differences between pin 168 and thepreviously described pin 84 are that bypass grooves 184 in the enlargedbypass portion 172 and bypass grooves 186 in the minor reduced bypassportion 176 are substantially straight, axially extending rather thanthe spiral bypass grooves 146 and 148 of the pin 84, although the bypassgrooves 184 and 186 serve the identical function.

Although the ball cock of the present invention has been illustrated anddescribed herein for use in controlling the flow of water in a toiletflush tank, it is evident, from the broader standpoint, that the purposeof the ball cock is for maintaining a liquid reservoir level whether ina toilet flush tank or in some other device, and whether or not theliquid involved is water. For instance, the ball cock according to theprinciples of the present invention may be advantageously used withswimming pools to control water level, or with range water tanks, orwith evaporative condensers, or with cooling towers, in every case forthe maintaining of a liquid reservoir level. It should be understood,therefore, that it is not intended to limit the principles of thepresent invention to ball cocks for toilet flush tanks alone, but ratherball cocks according to the principles of the present invention may beinstalled for various other purposes and uses, all of which are fullycontemplated according to the present invention.

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, a uniqueball cock for controlling the flow of water or other liquids in toiletflush tanks and other devices requiring the maintenance of a liquidreservoir level is provided which has an extremely positive valve 40 forcontrolling the same and has the various components thereof, includingthe fluid outlet member 54, formed for proper water flow with a minimumof water flow noise, with the major portion of this ball cock beingformed of plastic for reducing the problems of both noise and corrosion.Further, despite the fact that the ball cock 20 may have the valve 40thereof positioned at the lower portion of the flush tank 24 and belowwater level, the ball cock is uniquely formed, with the valve housingportions 58 and 80 easily disconnectable by a simple rotation of thefloat 32 and guide 34 so that the various parts of the valve are fullyaccessible for clean out or other maintenance requirements, and thereare no valve parts which become free during this disconnection so as tobe scattered beneath the water at the bottom of the flush tank 24. Also,the reassembly of the ball cock 20 is virtually foolproof due to thesimplicity thereof and proper sealing and operation of the valve 40 willbe assured despite repeated disassembly and reassembly by personslacking special knowledge and skill.

We claim:

1. In a ball cock for utilization in maintaining a liquid reservoirlevel, the combination of: a valve housing having separable upper andlower portions, engagement means normally engaged between said housingportions for selective separation and re-engagernent of said housingportions solely upon relative slidable rotation therebetween, saidhousing portions being free of other engagement means therebetween;valve means in said valve housing for movement between positionspreventing and permitting the flow of fluid through said housing, saidvalve means being accessible upon said separation of said housingportions; an upright guide mounted on one of said housing portions; afloat operably connected movable along said guide; and means operablyconnecting said float and valve means for movement of said valve meansbetween said positions upon movement of said float generally verticallyalong said guide.

2. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said engagement meansnormally engaged between said housing portions includes radiallyprojecting engagement members formed on each of said housing portionsnormally engageably interfitting and separable upon said relativeslidable rotation therebetween.

3. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which the lower end of saidguide is secured to said housing upper portion and against rotationtherebetween, said guide coaxially rotating said housing upper portionupon rotation of said guide.

4. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said housing upper portionis formed integral with the lower end of said guide so as to becoaxially rotatable with said guide for said relative rotation of saidhousing portions.

5. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said guide includes anupright beam rigidly secured to one of said housing portions fornonrotation therebetween; and in which said float is operably connectedto said guide beam for generally vertical movement along said guide beamand nonrotation therebetween generally horizontally about said beam andthroughout said float vertical movement.

6. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said guide is an uprightbeam of polygonal cross section rigidly secured to one of said housingportions for nonrotation therebetween; and in which said float is formedwith a slot of polygonal cross section generally vertically therethroughreceiving said guide beam for vertical movement and nonrotationtherebetween generally horizontally about said beam and throughout saidfloat vertical movement.

7. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said guide includes anupright beam of rectangular cross section, the lower end of said beambeing rigidly and nonrotatably secured to said, housing upper portion,certain of the sides of said beam having latticed vertical groovesformed therein resisting vertical bending and horizontal twisting ofsaid beam; and said float having a rectangular cross section slot formedtherethrough receiving said guide beam for vertical movementtherebetween, said slot and beam cross sections conforming andpreventing horizontal rotation of said float relative to said beamthroughout said float vertical movement.

8. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said h-ousing upperportion is rigidly secured to the lower end of said guide fornonrotation therebetween; and in which a valve seat is formed on one ofsaid housing portions, and the other of said housing portions when saidhousing portions are in engaged positions said valve means movableagainst and away from said valve seat for preventing and permitting saidfluid flow, said other of said housing portions peripherally andcentrally engaging said valve means to retain said positioning.

9. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said guide includes anupright beam rigidly secured to one of said housing portions fornonrotation therebetween; in which said float is operably connected tosaid guide beam for generally vertical movement along said guide beamand nonrotation therebetween generally horizontally about said beam andthroughout said float vertical movement; and in which a valve seat isformed on one of said housing portions, and the other of said housingportions positions said valve means during engagement of said housingportions movable against and away from said valve seat for preventingand permitting said fluid flow.

10. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said guide includes anupright beam having the lower end thereof rigidly secured to saidhousing upper portion for nonrotation therebetween; in which said floatis operably connected to said guide beam for generally vertical movementalong said guide beam and nonrotation therebetween generallyhorizontally about said beam and throughout said float verticalmovement; and in which a valve seat is formed on one of said housingportions, and the other of said housing portions positions said valvemeans during engagement of said housing portions movable against andaway from said valve seat for preventing and permitting said fluid flow.

11. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said guide includes anupright beam of polygonal cross section, the lower end of said beambeing rigidly secured to said housing upper portion for nonrotationtherebetween, certain of the sides of said beam having verticallyextending lattice means formed therein for strengthening said beam toresist vertical bending and horizontal twisting; in which said float hasa slot of polygonal cross section formed therethrough receiving saidguide beam for vertical movement therebetween, said slot and beam crosssections conforming and preventing horizontal rotation of said floatrelative to said beam throughout said float vertical movement; and inwhich a valve seat is formed on one of said housing portions, and theother of said housing portions positions said valve means movableagainst and away from said valve seat for preventing and permitting saidfluid flow.

12. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which a valve seat is formed onone of said housing portions, and the other of said housing portionspositions said valve means movable against and away from said valve seatfor preventing and permitting said fluid flow, said other of saidhousing portions peripherally and centrally engaging said valve means toretain said positioning.

13. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which an annular valve seat isformed on one of said housing portions; in which said valve meansincludes a resilient material valve seal; in which the other of saidhousing portions positions said valve seal through peripheral andcentral engagement therewith movable against and away from said valveseat for preventing and permitting said fluid flow; and in which saidmeans moving said valve means includes means operably connectedcentrally of said valve seal for at least aiding in moving said valveseal against and away from said valve seat.

14. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said housing lowerportion includes an upwardly extending annular flange; in which saidhousing upper portion is received downwardly within said lower portionflange; and in which said means normally engaged between said housingportions includes radially projecting means partially on each of saidhousing portions for interengagement between said housing portions uponlimited relative rotation between said housing portions.

15. A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said housing lowerportion includes an annular valve seat formed on a lower internalsurface of said lower portion and an upwardly extending annularperipheral flange; in which said valve means includes a resilientmaterial valve seal maintained through peripheral and central engagementby said housing upper portion movable toward and away from said lowerportion valve seat for preventing and permitting said fluid flow; inwhich said means operably connected to said valve means for moving saidvalve means includes means operably connected centrally of said valveseal for at least aiding in moving said valve seal between saidpositions; in which said housing upper portion is received downwardlywithin said lower portion flange; and in which said means normallyengaged between said housing portions includes radially projecting meanspartially on each of said housing portions for interengagement betweensaid housing portions upon limited relative rotation between saidhousing portions.

16. In a ball cock for utilization in maintaining a liquid reservoirlevel, the combination of: an upright beamlike guide, said guide beingof a latticed groove formation resisting vertical bending and horizontaltwisting; a float operably connected to said guide for vertical movementalong said guide; a valve movable for controlling the flow of fluid insaid tank; and means operably connected between said float and valve formoving said valve upon movement of said float.

17. A ball cock as defined in claim 16 in which said guide is ofpolygonal cross section, with certain sides having latticed groovesformed therein and extending vertically thereof resisting verticalbending and horizontal twisting; and in which said float is operablyconnected to said guide for said vertical movement through a polygonalcross section slot formed in said float vertically receiving said guide,said guide and float slot cross sections conforming and preventingrotation between said guide and float throughout said float verticalmovement.

18. A ball cock as defined in claim 16 in which said guide is ofrectangular cross section, opposite sides of said guide being formedwith latticed grooves therein and extending vertically thereof resistingvertical bending and horizontal twisting; and in which said float isoperably connected to said guide through a rectangular cross sectionslot formed through said float and telescopically receiving said guidefor said vertical movement of said float on said guide, said guide andfloat slot cross sections conforming and preventing rotation betweensaid guide and float throughout said float vertical movement.

19. A ball cock as defined in claim 16 in which said guide is ofrectangular cross section, opposite sides of said guide being formedwith latticed grooves therein and extending vertically thereof resistingvertical bending and horizontal twisting; in which said float isoperably connected to said guide through a rectangular cross sectionslot formed through said float and telescopically receiving said guidefor said vertical movement of said float on said guide, said guide andfloat slot cross sections conforming and preventing rotation betweensaid guide and float throughout said float vertical movement; and inwhich said guide is formed of a plastic material.

20. A ball cock as defined in claim 16 in which said guide is ofrectangular cross section, opposite sides of said guide being formedwith latticed grooves therein and extending vertically thereof resistingvertical bending and horizontal twisting; in which said float isoperably connected to said guide through a rectangular cross sectionslot formed through said float and telescopically receiving said guidefor said vertical movement of said float on said guide, said guide andfloat slot cross sections conforming and preventing rotation betweensaid guide and float throughout said float vertical movement.

21. In a ball cock for utilization in maintaining a liquid reservoirlevel, the combination of: an upright beam-like guide; means rigidlyconnected to said guide for normally remaining in a connected conditionand being selectively disconnectable upon horizontal rotation of saidguide; a float having a slot formed therethrough, said float receivingsaid guide in said float slot for vertical movement of said float alongsaid guide; means formed partially on said guide and partially on saidfloat within said float slot co-operating for preventing relativerotation between said guide and float throughout said float verticalmovement while permitting said float vertical movement along said guide;valve means movable for controlling the flow of fluid in said tank; andmeans operably connected between said float and valve means for movingsaid valve means upon vertical movement of said float along said guide.

22. A ball cock as defined in claim 21 in which said guide and float areformed of plastic materials; and in which said guide is of alatticed-groove formation resisting vertical bending and horizontaltwisting.

23. A ball cock as defined in claim 21 in which said guide and saidfloat are formed of plastic materials; in which said guide includes anupright polygonal cross section beam, certain sides of said beam havinglatticed grooves formed vertically therein resisting vertical bendingand horizontal twisting; in which said float groove is of polygonalcross section; and in which said means co-operating between said guideand float includes cer- 15 tain portions of sides of said guide beamvertically slidably engaged with certain portions of said float adjacentsaid float slot, said beam sides certain portions and said float certainportions co-operating to prevent said relative rotation between saidbeam and float.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,586,619 2/1952 Davis 73-32253,254,665 6/1966 Bachli et a1. 137-4l4 US. Cl. X.R.

